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Dekalb County School District

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Leadership

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Dr. Kermit Belcher
Dr. Kermit Belcher Chief Information Officer 

The Division of Information & Instructional Technology comprises of customer service-oriented professionals dedicated to the integration and implementation of technology across DeKalb County School District. Our goal is to expand the walls of the classroom by providing access to information and programs anytime, anywhere for anyone in a 21st century learning environment. Our job is to facilitate unique collaborative partnerships between our customers – students, teachers, staff, parents, and the community. The results are improved student achievement and optimum business processes, to establish and maintain a technology-rich teaching and learning environment where students and staff develop 21st century skills to be successful citizens in a global community. 

 

 

GLENN MELENDEZ
Glenn Melendez - Deputy Chief Technology Officer

The division supports a range of technologies, including multimodal learning platforms, physical safety and security systems, sustainable operational systems, and advanced analytics. Technology offers countless benefits—expanding access to information, fostering collaboration, and enriching learning experiences. When paired with innovative teaching, technology creates dynamic and engaging classrooms. Looking ahead, emerging technologies like generative AI promise to boost efficiency, productivity, and accelerate learning.  It is my honor to serve as your Deputy Chief Technology Officer as we re-imagine the possibilities for technology to accelerate academic success for each and every one of our young scholars!

 
 
 
Kenya Williams – Application and Data Governance 

We lead the strategic implementation and management of enterprise applications and data services to support student success. 
With deep expertise in data governance, technology integration, and operational efficiency, we ensure educators and administrators have secure, reliable, and actionable data to drive informed decision-making. 

Natalie Terrell - Project Management 

The Project Management Office (PMO) provides services to deliver technology projects in a timely manner. This department was formally established in 2007; however, the practice of project management processes and procedures has existed since the late 1990’s. Along with the manager, there are six full-time staff members on the PMO team, four senior project managers, a project specialist, and an administrative assistant. The goal of the PMO is to ensure successful planning, implementation and closing of all projects, so that they remain within scope, are completed on or ahead of schedule, and remain within budget. Lessons learned are created as part of the conclusion of projects as a means for improving future projects. Our projects can run the gamut of large, multimillion dollar capital improvement and district-wide projects to small local school implementations. Most projects are funded by SPLOST, federal and state funding sources, and state and local grants. The PMO follows the Project Management Institute (PMI) standard body of knowledge to manage projects throughout their life cycle. These are standards, processes, and procedures to manage projects to ensure measurable success. How do we measure this success? We measure our success formatively by projects completed on time and within scope and budget. In summary, we measure project success by customer satisfaction. 

Emma Oakley – Technical & Support Services 

The Technical & Support Services department comprises of the DeKalb County Schools’ Call Center and Support Center (Helpdesk) – which is expertly manned by over 63 Information Technology technicians that provide first-level support to all DeKalb County Schools and Centers along with information to internal and external customers that call in for assistance. Technical & Support Services is also responsible for maintaining the William Bradley Bryant Center as a technology showplace and ensures the safety of those visitors, both internal and external. Our primary goal is customer service. We are continuously seeking new and innovative ways to improve the customer service model and reduce the time to resolution for end user issues. 

Tasks include: 

  • Setting closed call objectives to align with balanced scorecard objectives 
  • Coordinating training and monthly meetings for all Information Technology Technicians (ITTs) 
  • Working on various technology committees 
  • Assisting with our community’s RFP process for technology 
  • Negotiating with vendors 
  • Maintaining safety for Information Technology employees 
  • Ensuring Information Technology facility is a showcase of technology 
 
Jamal Northington – Enterprise System 

The Enterprise Systems unit provides support, installation, and maintenance of district-wide servers and systems. This includes virtual and physical server environments, user provisioning, Active Directory, Office 365, wireless, AS400, Security Camera infrastructure, Green Print initiative, online testing, etc. 
The Enterprise Systems unit also maintain the virus and malware protection on all district-owned devices. Enterprise Systems maintains the Network Operations Center that monitors all critical servers and systems, as well as the data centers across the district. 

Jeff Miller – Desktop Support 

The Desktop Support team oversees 100K+ desktops, laptops, and mobile computing devices for the school district and ensures that they are properly provisioned, safeguarded, and managed.  

Dr. Kyia Clark - Information & Innovation 

The Office of Information and Innovation leverages the synergy of educational technology, student information and the virtual learning to support district strategic goals, stimulate innovation, and partner with stakeholders to make informed decisions that support student success. The most vital responsibility of the Office of Information and Innovation assists the Chief Information Officer in ensuring compliance with established goals and strategic planning by maintaining organizational technological strategy, defining the requirements for new technology implementations, and communicating them to key business stakeholders. The Department of Information and Innovation seamlessly works with executive leadership, builds strong collaborative relationships, and plays a vital role in facilitating executive decisions regarding technology, innovation, and information in the DeKalb County School District. Our vision is to ensure all staff and students can participate in engaging and relevant learning experiences using current and innovative technology tools and digital resources. This includes a focus on promoting awareness, facilitating integration, and encouraging expansion of 21st century skills and learning. Ultimately, these departments join the rest of the Division of Information and Instructional Technology to model and support equitable access to a future-ready learning environment for all students. 

Marcus Browning – Student Information Systems 

The Student Information Systems (SIS) department collects, manages, and uses student information data for mandated state and federal data collections. We are also responsible for business and student physical records. Infinite Campus is the application used to collect, maintain, and report this data. We provide training and support for school and district personnel on this application. The Infinite Campus Portal is used by parents and students to see current grade book information on their assignments, average grade, and attendance. 

Tamra Blount Watts – Student Information Systems Scheduling 

The Scheduling team supports all schools in the development and management of their master schedules and student schedules, while supporting schools during each grade posting cycle. We are also responsible for the GaDOE Student Class Data Collections. 

Linda Jordan – Application Development 

The Application Development and Support Group supports Enterprise and District-wide K-12,  Learning Systems, and Business Systems applications.  The group consists of three teams. The K-12 and Learning Systems Support Team manages Infinite Campus, Canvas, and related data interfaces for core student functions (enrollment, attendance, scheduling, reporting, and parent access) as well as integrations with key instructional and administrative applications. The Enterprise Business Systems Support Team maintains the District’s ERP and business systems (Munis, Frontline HR, Asset Management), supporting HR, payroll, finance, procurement, and compliance reporting through custom code and system integrations. The Web Development and Support Team manages the District’s website, the primary communication hub for students, staff, parents, and the community. 

Terri Webb – Instructional Technology 

The role of Instructional Technology is to enhance teaching and learning by integrating technology into educational environments. We support educators through training, technology integration, and digital learning initiatives while promoting data-driven instruction and responsible technology use. 

The priorities of the DeKalb County School District Instructional Technology Department include:  

  • Promoting awareness of the approved DCSD digital tools.

  • Facilitating the integration using high-impact teaching strategies that leverage technology.

  • Encouraging the expansion of these tools and strategies.

Our Mission is to create a secure playground where empowered Dreaming, Learning, Ownership, and Engagement go hand in hand!

Gwendolyn Brame – IT Business Operations 

The Business Operations office develops, establishes, and implements organizational and operational policies and procedure guidelines for the division’s business operations. This consists of assisting the Chief Information Officer with developing, overseeing, and administering the department's budget by monitoring and tracking expenditures for staffing, processes, and technology components and services. Daily collaboration is executed with division/department heads, managers, supervisors, and vendors to ensure the efficient implementation of business operations and the alignment of technology goals, policies, and procedures. The Business Operations office ensures the professional development of the staff, keeps abreast of developments and innovations related to the business operations of information technology, and ensures that staff members have access to professional growth opportunities. 

Eric Logan – Information and Network Security 

DeKalb County School District’s Information and Network Security Division works with the District’s leadership and overall community to secure information systems and network resources by protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of student, faculty, and staff information/data. To support this mission, the Information and Network Security Division will: 

  • Develop policies, standards, and procedures required for the protection of confidential information. 
  • Increase student, faculty, staff, and community awareness of information security through training and communication. 
  • Identify and mitigate risks to the security of information and systems. 
  • Define security requirements, establish baselines, and measure compliance based on applicable laws, regulations, and leveraging industry best practices. 
  • Consult with District users and departments to investigate security issues and evaluate products and processes. 
  • Collaborate with key stakeholders and leadership to utilize external resources and leverage technical staff to develop DeKalb County School District’s information security strategy and architecture. 
  • Ensure incident response and disaster recovery plans are developed, implemented, routinely tested, and continuously refined. 
  • Respond to and recover from disruptive and destructive information security events. 
Joesph Swing – Telecommunications 

We are comprised of Enterprise Servers, Desktop Services, Telecommunications, Physical Security and Infrastructure and Security – all working together to provide world-class solutions and services to meet the district’s technological needs. The Enterprise Servers Unit provides support for Enterprise Servers and Applications. This includes support of financial and human resource systems along with ensuring state of the art virus protection is deployed. The Desktop Services unit provides support via installation and maintenance of District standard Desktop computers and mobile devices along with licensed and approved district software. The Telecommunication’s unit is responsible for the maintenance and support of over 13,000+ phone lines and supports DCSD cellular phones. The Physical Security unit provides support for all the DCSD alarm systems, 250 security doors, and over 5,300 security cameras district wide. 

Cedric Brown - Network Services 

The Network Services team plays a critical role in maintaining and expanding the district’s technology infrastructure. Their responsibilities include the installation and maintenance of wireless access points, structured cabling to support connectivity across all sites, and ongoing network capacity planning to ensure reliable performance. The team also provides essential firewall support to protect district systems and data.